Glendale Soccer Association Inc.

Division Coordinator - Christie Call 257-2446

General Rules:

Canceling a game or practice:  The head coach is responsible for canceling a game or practice due to inclement weather conditions (always for lightning, at the coach's discretion for rain) and scheduling conflicts (school breaks, etc.).  Parents/guardians are asked to NOT leave the field area in case of weather or physical emergencies.  If a coach cancels a game prior to game day, the coach should reschedule the game in conjunction with the coach from the opposing team and must inform the referee coordinator ASAP of the cancellation and date/time of the rescheduled game.

The ball: size five (5)

Number of Players:  The game will be played with 11 players of each team on the field.  Both teams must play with the same number of players; if one team does not have 11, both teams must play with the same number as the smaller team.  The only exception is when one team voluntarily plays with one or two less players, as when they are leading by more than 5 goals.  The maximum number of players on the roster should not exceed 14, with a recommendation of 12.  A minimum of 7 players are needed, per team, to start a game.  If a game is started with 7 players and a team loses a player, the game will be terminated.  Team and games are co-ed.  No team roster shall have less than 2 of either gender. 

Player Positions:  3 forwards, 4 mid-fielders, 3 sweepers and 1 goalie.  The coach should make every effort so that every player shall play a minimum of 50% of the total playing time.

Equipment:  Footwear must conform to FIFA Laws; plastic cleats with no toe cleat.  Shinguards are MANDATORY.  The goalkeepers must wear a jersey differentiating them from the field players.  For insurance purposes and player safety, all teams shall follow FIFA Law 4 - Equipment Safety - "A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to him/herself or another player, including any kind of jewelry." (including post earrings)

Referee:  The league will provide one referee and two side judges.  If a head coach cancels a game prior to the game day, the coach must reschedule the game in conjunctin with the coach from the opposing team and inform the referee coordinator ASAP of the cancellation and the date/time of the rescheduled game.

Duration of the Game:  Two (2) 30-minute halves.  The half-time break is 5 minutes.

Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee, on any dead ball.  Substitutions will be made by having the player(s) wait at the center line until the referee blows the whistle and admits them to the game.

Spectators:  Spectators are asked to occupy the side of the field opposite the coach and players.

Playing the Game:

Rules:  Rules in soccer are called Laws and there are 17 of them.  For a full listing of the Laws, visit the FIFA website and see the FIFA Laws of the Game.

Kickoff:  A kickoff is taken from the center circle at the beginning of the game, beginning of the second half and after each goal.  The first kick must touch an offensive player before the defense may touch the ball.

Ball in and out of play:  The ball must completely cross the line to be out of play.

Off-Side:  A player is off-side if the player is ahead of the ball; except if the player

1. is in the player's own half of the field;
2. has 2 opponents even with or between the player and the opponent' goal line;  the referee's "moment of judgement" is the instant the ball is played, not when it is received; 
3. is the first to receive the ball from a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick; or
4. is not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent; or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

Throw-In:  After the ball has completely crossed the side boundary lines ("touchlines"), a throw-in is awarded against the team that last touched the ball.  The throw-in is taken from where the ball left the field and must be thrown with two hands from behind and over the head, while both feet are on the ground and on or behind the touchline.

Goal Kick:  The goal kick is taken by the defending team each time the ball crosses the goal line and was last touched by an attacking player.  The ball may be placed anywhere in the goal area and is not considered back in play until it has been kicked out of the penalty area.

Corner Kick:  The corner kick is taken by the attacking team each time the ball is kicked by the defense over its own goal line.  The ball is placed within the three-foot arc in the corner of the field (nearest to where the ball went out of play) and kicked into play by the attacking team.

Penalty Kick:  The penalty kick is awarded when a defending player commits one of the 10 penal (major) fouls within their ownepenalty area while the ball is still in play.  The penalty kick is taken by a player from the offended team from a spot 12 yards from the goal.  All players must remain outside the penalty area, 10 yards from the ball, and behind the penalty-kick mark until the kick is taken, except for the kicker and the goalkeeper.  The goalkeeper's feet must remain stationary on the goal line until the ball is kicked.  At the referee's signal, the kicker attempts to kick the ball into the opponent's goal and the goalkeeper tries to stop the ball from scoring.

Misconduct:  There are two kinds of misconduct: (1) actions resulting in a caution (yellow card) from the referee; (2) actions resulting in a player being sent off or ejected from the field (red card).  A referee may also warn a player to improve his or her conduct (or unsportsmanlike behavior) before a caution is issued.  Glendale is a recreational league.  Unsportsmanlike behavior by a player or spectator will not be tolerated.

Penal Fouls:  There are 10 major fouls that result in a direct free kick ("DFK") and from which a goal may be directly scored against the opponents.  To be a major foul, the offense must be, in the referee's judgement, intentionally committed.  The 10 fouls are divided into two groups:

These 6 require that the foul be committed carelessly, recklessly or with disproportionate force:

• Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent;
• Striking or attempting to strike an opponent;
• Pushing an opponent;
• Charging an opponent;
• Tripping an opponent;
• Jumping into an opponent.

These 4 require only that they be committed:

• When tackling an opponent, making contact with the opponent before the ball;
• Spitting at an opponent;
• Holding an opponent;
• Handling the ball deliberately.

Non-Penal Fouls:  There are 5 minor fouls that result in an individual free kick ("IFK").  At least one additional player of either team must touch the ball before a goal can be scored from an IFK. 

• Dangerous Play:  including high kicking near another player's head or trying to play a ball held by a goalkeeper;
• Fair Charge Away From the Ball:  fairly charging when the ball is not within playing distance;
• Impeding Progress of an Opponent:  getting between an opponent and the ball when not playing the ball;
• Charging the Goalkeeper:  shoulder-to-shoulder contact within the penalty area;
• Goalkeeper Infringements:  (1) taking more than four steps whil controlling the ball with their hands or otherwise intentionally disrupting the flow of the game; (2) playing ball with hands when the ball is kicked by a teammate.